Game Thread 8/24/18 Twins vs. Athletics 7:10PM CDT - 7:10AM Novosibirsk

[jimmer]

 

Joe looked a little moved by the response of the crowd for his hit (for Joe).  Or since it is nickname night, Mauer looked a little moved by the response of the crowd.

I love it when Twins fans appreciate a player like Joe. Classy.

[USAFChief]

Twice.

 

4th inning Polanco sac bunt, followed by Sano Sac Fly.  Let's give away two outs in the 4th to get one run using our #4 and #5 hitter to do it.

I don’t think you can blame Sano, or the manager, for a sac fly. Unless you think Sano chose to hit a fly ball instead of a hit, or Molitor told him to.

[IndianaTwin]

Settle in, folks, we're about to experience the FRE!

[snepp]

http://www.funnysigns.net/files/hell-froze-over.jpg

[jimmer]

 

I don’t think you can blame Sano, or the manager, for a sac fly. Unless you think Sano chose to hit a fly ball instead of a hit, or Molitor told him to.

I believe the manager told his #4 batter to sac bunt and then told his #5 hitter to make sure he hit the ball deep enough to score the guy from 3rd.  In the 4th inning...

 

And then probably told them the same thing again, and Sano grounded out instead, which happens.

 

I blame the timing of the strategy. Both times.

[Aggies7]

We simply can’t allow FR to have a clean inning

[USAFChief]

I believe the manager told his #4 batter to sac bunt and then told his #5 hitter to make sure he hit the ball deep enough to score the guy from 3rd. In the 4th inning...

 

And then probably told them the same thing again, and Sano grounded out instead.

It’s certainly possible he ordered the sac bunts. Bad managing, if so.

 

As for telling his #5 hitter to “make sure he hit the ball deep enough to score the guy,” that sounds like good advice. Except that he of course did not add “but don’t get a hit.”

 

I don’t know why you’d have an issue with Sano.

[jimmer]

 

It’s certainly possible he ordered a sac bunts. Bad managing, if so.

As for telling his #5 hitter to “make sure he hit the ball deep enough to score the guy,” that sounds like good advice. Except that he of course did not add “but don’t get a hit.”

I don’t know why you’d have an issue with Sano.

When did I say I had an issue with what Sano did? Never. Again, it's the strategy that I think Molitor ordered I have an issue with. Sano did what he was told to do. And we DID get a run (by giving away two outs by our #4 and #5 hitter...in the 4th).

[Winston Smith]

 

Gotta love bunting with your 4 hitter with nobody out and a runner in scoring position when you’re 14.5 games out of first

Might be part of the reason why they are 14.5 out.

[Aggies7]

24 pitches for Rodney and we move no closer than first base

[IndianaTwin]

Well, that was boring. 

[USAFChief]

When did I say I had an issue with what Sano did? Never.  Again, it's the strategy that I think Molitor ordered I have an issue with.  Sano did what he was told to do. And we DID get a run (by giving away two outs by our #4 and #5 hitter...in the 4th).

So you think Molitor told Sano not to get a hit?

[big dog]

Wait, we had a runner on first with one out. Why wasn’t Grossman bunting to move him over? Isn’t that tonight’s game plan? Fine him.

[jimmer]

 

So you think Molitor told Sano not to get a hit?

Ugh...I've already said what I thought he told Sano to do...at least two or three times.

 

I'm sure Mollie wouldn't have minded if he ordered Sano to hit a fly ball deep enough to score the guy from 3rd and it went out of the park or he got a double instead, obviously.

[Aggies7]

So you think Molitor told Sano not to get a hit?

Let’s just all agree that the two bunt calls, if they came from the dugout, were brainless and deserving of immediate termination

[Aggies7]

0-2 hit, fine coming

[jimmer]

 

Let’s just all agree that the two bunt calls, if they came from the dugout, were brainless and deserving of immediate termination

Certainly agree with the first part. It's certainly my biggest beef with Mollie. Playing for one run early in games (and in this case, using the #4 and #5 batter makes it even more annoying)

[Aggies7]

Mr drake’s Good run is on the line here

[Aggies7]

Aaaaand that’s the end of that

[jimmer]

Chapman is usually fun to watch.  Not against us, but fun overall.

[snepp]

Welp.

[Platoon]

Well at least we got that one run in the fourth.......

[Platoon]

There are a lot of things that Sano has come up short on this year, but his arm isn't one of them.

[Platoon]

Well at least we got that one run in the fourth.......

Well at least we got that one run in the fourth...........

[slash129]

So Reed took a home run off his face in the bullpen and continues to serve up BP ... Time to shut him down for the year ... He ain't right

[big dog]

Agreed I was just thinking the same thing. Send him to have whatever surgery he needs now instead of doing it in February or March.

[Platoon]

Well at least we weren't shut out!

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Oh, and if i haven't already said it, i always appreciate your writing style, Mr. Dastardly. Ever listen to the Dead Milkmen? Well, your gamethread intros would do nicely with a walking bass line under it.

I actually played the bass guitar once upon a lifetime or two ago. G&L 1000. Still have it. Somewhere...

[slash129]

Gotta hand it to Odo ... I know the young ones are exciting to talk about, but a spot in the 2019 rotation is at worst his to lose

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I actually played the bass guitar once upon a lifetime or two ago. G&L 1000. Still have it. Somewhere...

That works.

 

I am an upright player myself, although there hasn't been much call for it. And i am not too wise in the ways of walking if it isn't written out for me, sad to say.

 

Sorry all i weren't round for the game itself much.

 

Bunting is an important skill set to have. We can rest easy now knowing they have to respect out bunting in future games.